Register should provide more solutions

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Dick Oakley: It seems like every morning when I turn to the Local section of the Register, the “O.C. Watchdog” has another headline blasting some outrageous salary or benefits program for Orange County public employees. Today's was “31 percent of Anaheim city workers make $100,000” [Sept. 28].

Given today's economic circumstances and volatile political climate, I feel these headlines and articles alone do nothing to help calm the readers. Like throwing gasoline on a fire, they exacerbate the situation.

I realize the Register is a news organization, but how about having the columnist offer some suggestions or possible solutions on how to change or correct the reported situation? By doing so, the Register would distinguish itself from the myriad of “news” outlets that simply fan the flames of conflict in Orange County. For my mind, a news organization or person that recognizes a problem and also offers a solution is worth every penny I spend on it.

Taxed into homelessness

COSTA MESA, Jack Valley: To letter-writer Shirley Jameson: How is that 10.3 percent California consumption tax working for you? Adding another federal consumption tax should do it and end your consumption [“Flat-tax time has come,” Sept. 28].

Now that carbon tax, on top of your utility/energy/property costs, which have all those fees and taxes included, will end your carbon usage, and you can become as carbon-free as all the homeless people. Imposing taxes without representation was the reason for the American Revolution.

Refreshing knowledge of the history of this once-great government idea and how we got to this point since 1910 would be most enlightening.

ER's immigrant overflow

NORTH TUSTIN, Kathleen Lehman: It must be a slow news day. The front page declares, “Life with no safety net” [Sept. 28]. Yet another article on the lack of health insurance for certain people. Then the article contradicts itself by saying that emergency rooms must by law treat every patient. That certainly is a safety net.

To make the article more comprehensive, I would like to know what percentage of the uninsured are immigrants. Whenever I have had the misfortune of visiting an ER, I have been struck by the cacophony of languages. I am not saying all uninsured are immigrants. I am saying immigrants are over-represented in certain public health/safety areas.

I think we should have urgent-care centers that could treat the non-life-threatening conditions, without burdening hospitals with those patients. People would be treated faster and with less expense.

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CORONA DEL MAR, Bill Cool: The Register's article “Life with no safety net” [Sept. 28] failed to point out some very important facts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau findings, 43.6 percent of non-citizens lack health insurance, and 33.6 percent of those born outside of the U.S. are without coverage. Contrast this with native-born Americans, at 13.4 percent uninsured. The article states that in areas with a high percentage of the uninsured, adults and retirees were less satisfied with their medical care and had more difficulty seeing specialists.

This is yet another serious problem caused, in large part, due to the large numbers of illegal aliens.

Creating $200,000 jobs

STANTON, Sandra Stubban: Let me be sure I understand this: Obama is going to “create” all these jobs at a cost of $200,000 each. Then he's going to allow the unemployed to sue for discrimination, thus putting any unemployed lawyers (if such there be) to work. No wonder it costs $200,000 per. And this is going to solve our unemployment problem how?

Children still left behind

YORBA LINDA, Daniel Brig: In 2001, when our current high school seniors were in the first grade, we established No Child Left Behind, a plan to bring student achievement to the level of proficient in English and math [“State says rules put schools in a bind,” Front Page, Sept. 27]. After more than $120 billion in additional funds, Register writer Fermin Leal reports that administrators and teachers claim that achieving proficiency is impossible.

State and county school superintendents Tom Torlakson and William Habermehl, respectively, want to waive the accountability provisions of No Child Left Behind and want more money to, in essence, further reduce standards. In the meantime for the most part, another generation of kids have been let down. It is time for a bold move. Make vouchers available for private schools.

Blame Muslim students

SAN CLEMENTE, A. Noble: Letter-writer Syed Hussaini thinks that the UCI Muslim students will be handicapped for life, and that Mr. [Tony] Rackauckas is to blame [“Muslim students violated limits of free speech,” Sept. 27]. Only the students themselves are to blame. It's time for everyone to take responsibility for his own actions and not try to put the blame on someone else.

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SANTA ANA, Lawrence J. Budner: Regarding the “Irvine 11” verdict, the essence of civil disobedience is breaking the law in full expectation of being punished, and being willing to accept that punishment to bring attention to the justice of one's cause. Breaking the law and attempting to avoid punishment makes the students and their cause seem much less noble.

Defending indefensible

MISSION VIEJO, Sidney P. Anderson: However one judges the total content of her “no” position on the prosecution of the ‘Irvine 11,' one must give Ameena Mirza Qazi, deputy director of CAIR, Los Angeles, credit for her brave attempt to defend the indefensible [“Did the ‘Irvine 11' deserve prosecution?” Opposing Views, Sept. 28]. Is it possible that she was encouraged by the position taken by the Register?

According to Ms. Qazi, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren's speech was not cut short by the behavior of the Islamic students, but by “Oren's exclusive reception,” and – of all people – Kobe Bryant, the basketball star. She writes of “our,” (read Islam's) rights to free speech and political dissent.

In the meantime, a young woman in the Islamic Mideast is sentenced to 10 lashes for driving a car.

Save the amphitheater

SANTA ANA, Jack Dean: I am disgusted that the city of Irvine would turn a great venue like Verizon Wireless Amphitheater into more houses.

The amphitheater is the perfect concert venue; it's close to two major freeways; it sits on the edge of an industrial park; and it faces open hills so sound's not a problem.

This is in stark contrast with Pacific Amphitheater [on the Orange County fairgrounds], which sits right in the middle of neighborhoods, and sound is a constant problem. I would beg the Irvine Co. to reconsider and leave that beautiful venue alone. It's still in great shape and very useful for numerous activities.

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